With how frequently we use enamel stove tops, they're bound to get into some bad situations. From grease stains to burnt food particles, stubborn stains that land on your enamel stove top will only get worse when left to harden or dry, especially with the constant exposure to heat.
While we all know that we should always clean stains as they come, it doesn't always happen that way.
Luckily, cleaning out these stains is not impossible, and you can actually make the surface of your stove shine and sparkle again with some baking soda!
How to Remove Baked On Grease from Enamel Stove Top
Step 1: Prepare Your Enamel Stove
Before cleaning your stove, it's very important to make sure that it has completely cooled down to avoid any risks of getting burned.
Once it has completely cooled, remove all the exterior elements from your stove. Anything that can be taken off has to go so that you can reach the enamel surface of your stove top more easily. This also includes the burner caps, burner heads, grates and anything else on the stove.
Step 2: Wipe Down Your Enamel Stove
After removing all the exterior parts of your stove, you'll want to give the surface a preliminary wipe down to get any loose food articles and spills off and make the cleaning process easier.
You can do this with a sponge or a microfiber cloth and some soapy water. This soapy water can easily be made by combining some warm water and a few drops of dish soap.
As this is just a first wipe, make sure that you don't go too hard, especially if you're using the abrasive side of a sponge. The last thing that you want is to scrub the surface aggressively enough to scratch the surface.
Step 3: Grab Your Baking Soda and Make a Paste
The next step in the cleaning process is to make a baking soda paste, and there are actually a few different combinations you can choose from depending on the severity of the stains.
Baking Soda and Hot Water
For light stains that weren't removed by the soapy water but may not be too serious, you might be able to get away with just using baking soda and hot water. Simply mix 1/4 cup of baking soda to a teaspoon of hot water. Add more baking soda or hot water as needed until you have a pasty consistency.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
For moderate stains, baking soda and white vinegar might be enough. All you'll need to do is get a container and mix equal parts of baking soda and white vinegar, and make sure that you mix your baking soda paste well enough that there are no more clumps left.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
For tough stains that need something more heavy duty, a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide should get the job done. Just pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and slowly add your hydrogen peroxide until it forms a runny paste. Make sure to add the hydrogen peroxide sparingly to avoid a runny paste and thoroughly mix both ingredients together.
Assess the severity of your baked on stains and choose which cleaning solution is the most appropriate.
Step 4: Spread the Baking Soda Paste On Your Enamel Stove Top
Once you have your baking soda paste, spread it an even layer all over your stove top, making sure to apply a thicker layer on any stubborn baked on sauces or other tough stains. You can use anything from a spoon to a brush to layer on the paste on the surface.
When you've finished applying, let it sit and soak for at least 15 minutes so that the paste can soften up and dissolve the baked on stains. Tougher stains may need a bit more time to settle.
Step 5: Clean External Parts of Stove Top
While you're waiting for the baking soda paste to do its thing, you can use the time to clean the removable parts of your stove by washing them with soapy water. You can either wash them under your kitchen sink with a sponge and some dish soap, or leave them to soak in some warm water and dish soap should there be anything that needs to be softened.
After cleaning, make sure that you've dried them properly with a dry cloth before setting them aside for later.
Step 6: Scrape the Baked on Stains Away
After the paste has been left to sit on the remaining stains, clean the stove and remove the food grime. This can be done by gentle scraping, either with a plastic spatula or even a credit card as these will not scratch the surface.
In case you would prefer scrubbing, you can use a kitchen sponge or a steel wool to scrub at any of the food stains, but make sure to not put too much force to avoid leaving any scratches on the surface.
Step 7: Wipe Clean
Use a damp cloth or some paper towels to wipe away the cleaning mixture. Make sure that you clean the stove thoroughly to avoid any baking soda residue being left behind.
Should there be any remaining stains left on your stove, just apply another layer of the paste and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, repeat the last few steps by scraping off the food particles and wiping away the paste again.
Step 8: Finishing Touches
After getting rid of all the messes and any remnant of the paste, get a dry clean cloth and dip it in some hot water. Run the damp cloth over the entire surface one final time.
When finished, all that's left to do is to put back all of the dried external parts to their rightful places on your freshly cleaned stove top!
